Local authority staff already using NRPF Connect may refer to the User Guide.​​

Why local authorities need NRPF Connect

At the end of March 2017:

43 local authorities were supporting 2245 households with NRPF​ by providing accommodation and/or financial support at a combined annual cost of £36.4 million

Over the year there was a continuing trend of reduced caseloads and an overall saving to budgets.

The Home Office has been responding to all information requests in line with the service level agreement, with new cases being checked well within the five working day target.

NRPF Connect will meet the data management and immigration status checking needs of every local authority supporting adults, families are care leavers with NRPF, as well as enabling accurate monitoring of caseloads. Resolution of cases is achieved via direct interaction on a case by case basis with the Home Office. Additionally, contributing to the only national data source strengthens the local authority position with regards to evidencing cost shunts and forms a basis for the NRPF Network's policy workundertaken to benefit all local authorities. ​

'Can I just say how much I LOVE the reports section; I have just completed the FOI request in 5 minutes. Marvellous'. (LA manager, September 2015)​​​

A local authority using NRPF Connect will receive the following benefits:​

Interaction with a dedicated Home Office team to access immigration information when required.

Additional support from Home Office teams in progressing cases in receipt of local authority support.

The support of the NRPF Network in the local authority's interaction with the Home Office and development of local authority services to migrants with NRPF.

Will using NRPF Connect save the local authority money?

Reducing staff time spent gathering and consolidating information about caseloads in terms of cost and immigration status for data sharing or monitoring purposes.

Getting priority cases resolved with urgency by the Home Office

Preventing fraudulent claims being made in multiple authorities

Beyond direct cash-savings, making a case for additional resources from central government to assist in the management and resolution of NRPF cases depends on having a robust evidence base with which to make the argument; NRPF Connect is the only system that is capable of meeting this business need.

The Service Level Agreement (SLA) provides a framework for the Home Office and local authorities to review progress, maintain joint monitoring arrangements and assess performance in operating the database. Once a local authority joins NRPF Connect it will be obliged by the terms of the Access Agreement to keep records up-to-date and to ensure that the terms of the SLA are adhered to.​